Drug and Alcohol Counselor

Careers in Mental Health

Michael Kemp, NCAC I
Director – Peer Recovery Services

Generic Information

Job Responsibilities:

Provide primary support for the client, interacting with the individual several times a week
Referral patients to services within the institutional, clinical, medical, and community settings
Serves as a patient advocate

Education Requirement:

Level 1 Drug and Alcohol Abuse Counselors must have 150 hours of alcohol and drug
related education
Level 2 Drug and Alcohol Abuse Counselors must earn bachelor’s degrees or pursue
equivalent studies
Level 3 Drug and Alcohol Abuse Counselors must have at least a Master’s Degree in
behavioral science

Certification Requirement :

License issued by Addiction Counselor Certification Board of Oregon

Essential Skills:

Empathetic active listening skills
Clinical knowledge, skills and abilities in working with persons with mental illness
Ability to function independently and as a part of a patient-centered interdisciplinary treatment team
Highly attentive to detail, confidentiality, and accuracy
Verbal and written communication skills

Other Job Settings:

Hospitals
Outpatient clinics
Substance abuse centers
Schools
Correctional Facilities

Overview

Drug and Alcohol Counselors work with patients to develop a trusting relationship. Together they explore the patient’s relationship to substance use and abuse in order to move forward with a treatment plan. The Counselor works as part of the patient-centered interdisciplinary treatment team to help set goals and develop an individualized treatment plan. They also act as an assistant to gather resources for the client to be successful after discharge. For many Addiction Counselors, this work can be personal as many have a personal history with substance abuse.